Web References

Meet Bartholemew!

The central character of this show, Bartholemew is a young, adventurous and yet naïve Monarch Caterpillar. Appearing worn and haggard from his journeys, he touts a tattered fedora and a hobo stick on his shoulder. This colorful creature has been ejected from the comfort and safety of his childhood home and forced to… Read More

The central character of this show, Bartholemew is a young, adventurous and yet naïve Monarch Caterpillar. Appearing worn and haggard from his journeys, he touts a tattered fedora and a hobo stick on his shoulder. This colorful creature has been ejected from the comfort and safety of his childhood home and forced to wander the world in search of an answer. The answer, unbeknownst to him, is twofold: his ultimate transformation into the king of the insect world, the Monarch butterfly. As well as realizing his destiny to succeed grandpa monarch as the defender and ruler of the Opal forest.

Bartholemew is gentle and far too trusting, which gets him into trouble on a regular basis. In the pilot episode, he befriends the Evil Zeppa, only to find out that Zeppa has stolen his ability to morph. Fortunately, his trustworthy nature helps him to make true friends, such as the gentle and unassuming Ray.

Through his trials and tribulations in the show, Bartholemew grows as a person and without realizing it, learns to break Zeppa’s spell until he is ready to become the thing he always wanted - a butterfly. Read Less

Meet Hillary!

Hillary is the spoiled, self-centred sister of Bartholemew’s best friend, Ray. A cruel and egotistical child who lavishes herself in the material things which her rich parents give her to placate her, she has little, if any, regard for other people’s feelings. She is interested only in getting her way, and prete… Read More

Hillary is the spoiled, self-centred sister of Bartholemew’s best friend, Ray. A cruel and egotistical child who lavishes herself in the material things which her rich parents give her to placate her, she has little, if any, regard for other people’s feelings. She is interested only in getting her way, and pretentiously flaunts the latest Paris runway fashions that are her reward for her grudging compliance (not obedience).

Her cruelty to people, animals and insects - particularly to Bartholemew - are the highlight of her dramatic role in this tale. However, as the show progresses, we see lessons which stick with her, mostly through humiliation or hard-knock lessons. This helps to develop her persona as someone who can grow, change, and learn to respect others. But not without work! A most surprising twist is when Hillary, the last person we would expect to help anyone, especially Bartholomew, ventures alone to join her brother Ray and Bartholomew in an environmental crusade against Zeppa in an attempt to regain the Opal forest and bring it back to it’s true glory. Read Less